24 Del. Admin. Code § 3100-9.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 3100-9.0 - Continuing Education Regulations

9.1 Board Authority. This rule is promulgated under the authority of 24 Del.C. § 3105 which grants the Board authority to provide for rules for continuing funeral services education as a prerequisite for license renewal.

9.2 Requirements

9.2.1 Every licensed funeral director in active practice shall complete at least 10 hours/credits of approved continuing education (hereinafter "CE") during the 2-year licensure period prior to the time of license renewal. Licensed funeral directors who are 65 years of age or older are exempt from the CE requirements.

9.2.2 All CE credit hours must further the licensee's skills and understanding in the field of funeral services. Licensees who earn more than the required amount of CE credit hours during a given licensure period may carry over no more than 50% of the total CE credit hours required for the next licensure period.

9.2.3 When a Delaware licensee on inactive status files a written application to return to active practice with the Board, the licensee shall submit proof of having completed the required CE credit hours for the period just prior to the request to return to active practice.

9.3 Waiver of the CE Requirement

9.3.1 The Board has the power to waive any part of the entire CE requirement for good cause if the licensee files a written request with the Board. For example, exemptions to the CE requirement may be granted due to health, military service or economic hardship. Application for exemption shall be made in writing to the Board by the applicant for renewal and must be received by the Board no later than 60 days prior to the license renewal date. The Board shall decide the merits of each individual case at a regularly scheduled meeting.

9.3.2 Newly licensed funeral directors, including those newly licensed by reciprocity, are exempt during the time from initial licensure until the commencement of the first full licensure period.

9.4 Continuing Education Program Approval

9.4.1 Each contact hour (at least fifty minutes) is equivalent to 1.0 CE credit hour. One college credit hour is equivalent to 5 CE credit hours.

9.4.2 Eligible program providers or sponsors include educational institutions, government agencies, professional or trade associations and foundations and private firms.

9.4.3 Programs approved by the Academy of Funeral Service Practitioners (AFSP) are automatically approved and need not be submitted to the Board.

9.4.4 Sources of CE credits include the following:

* Programs sponsored by national funeral service organizations.

* Programs sponsored by state associations.

* Program provided by local associations.

* Programs provided by suppliers.

* Independent study courses for which there is an assessment of knowledge.

* College courses.

9.4.5 The recommended areas include the following:

* Grief counseling

* Professional conduct, business ethics or legal aspects relating to practice in the profession.

* Business management concepts relating to delivery of goods and services.

* Technical aspects of the profession.

* Public relations.

* After care counseling.

9.4.6 Application for CE program approval shall include the following:

9.4.6.1 Date and location.

9.4.6.2 Description of program subject, material and content.

9.4.6.3 Program schedule to time segments in subject content areas for which approval of, and determination of credit is required.

9.4.6.4 Name of instructors, background, expertise.

9.4.6.5 Name and position of person making request for program approval.

9.4.7 Requests for CE program approval shall be submitted to the Board on the application provided by the Board. Application for approval may be made after the program; however, if the program is not approved, the applicant will be notified and no credit given.

9.4.8 The CE credits shall be valid for the biennial renewal cycle in which they are approved. Changes in any aspect of the approved program shall render the approval invalid and the presenter will be responsible for making reapplication to the Committee.

9.4.9 Upon request, the Board shall mail a current list of all previously approved programs.

9.5 Certification of Continuing Education - Verification and Reporting

9.5.1 The program provider/sponsor has sole responsibility for the accurate monitoring of program attendance. Certificates of attendance shall be supplied by the program provider/sponsor and be distributed only at the completion of the program.

9.5.2 Verification of completion of an independent study program will be made with a student transcript.

9.5.3 The funeral director licensee shall maintain all original certificates of attendance for CE programs for the entire licensure period. A licensee who carries over credits from a prior licensure period must also maintain original certificates of attendance for all CE programs for any period from which credits are carried over.

9.5.4 Proof of continuing education is satisfied with an attestation by the licensee that he or she has satisfied the requirements of subsection 9.2.1.

9.5.4.1 Attestation may be completed electronically if the renewal is accomplished online. In the alternative, paper renewal documents that contain the attestation of completion may be submitted.

9.5.4.2 Licensees selected for random audit will be required to supplement the attestation with attendance verification pursuant to subsection 9.3.5.3.

9.5.5 Random audits will be performed by the Board to ensure compliance with the CEU requirements.

9.5.5.1 The Board will notify licensees within 60 days after August 31 that they have been selected for audit.

9.5.5.2 Licensees selected for random audit shall be required to submit verification within 10 days of receipt of notification of selection for audit.

9.5.5.3 Verification shall include the information necessary for the Board to assess whether the course or other activity meets the CE requirements in subsection 9.4, which may include, but is not limited to, the following information:

* Proof of attendance;

* Date of CE course;

* Instructor of CE course;

* Sponsor of CE course;

* Title of CE course; and

* Number of hours of CE course.

9.5.6 If a licensee fails to meet the CE requirement at the time of renewal, the Board may impose discipline as permitted under 24 Del.C. § 3114. In its discretion, the Board may permit the licensee to obtain the CE credits within a time period prescribed by the Board while maintaining an active license.

24 Del. Admin. Code § 3100-9.0

5 DE Reg. 606 (09/01/01)
9 DE Reg. 262 (08/01/05)
10 DE Reg. 1154 (01/01/07)
12 DE Reg. 1335 (04/01/09)
16 DE Reg. 655 (12/01/12)
24 DE Reg. 65 (7/1/2020)
27 DE Reg. 887 (5/1/2024) (Final)